Liverpool through to Capital One Cup final

Marko Arnautovic scored a controversial goal but it was still not enough to help Stoke City make it to the final of the Capital One Cup against Liverpool. Instead, the goal pushed the semi-final match to penalty shoot-outs which the Reds won 6-5 and with it booked a final ticket to Wembley on February 28. Liverpool went into the match with a 1-0 goal advantage but in the stoppage time of the first half Arnautovic netted the equaliser and the goal was allowed even though replays showed the Austrian was in an off-side position.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet who has faced severe criticism in the past was the hero of the night when he saved penalties from Peter Crouch and Marc Muniesa allowing substitute Joe Allen to score the winner.

Keeper Simon Mignolet celebrates – Image Source: The Guardian

John Walters, Glen Whelan, Ibrahim Affelay, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marco Van Ginkel scored for Stoke in the shoot-out while Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana, James Milner and Lucas scored for the Reds.

Making it to the final of the competition gives coach Jurgen Klopp an opportunity to end the season with silverware for the Reds. Liverpool have not won a trophy in the last four years and this provides them the best opportunity to turn things around.

Klopp who was appointed manager last October would be following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho formerly at Chelsea and Manuel Pellegrini of Manchester City who both won the trophy in their first season in England.